High-speed cover transfer means



July 25, 1950 J. SIMPSON ET AL HIGH-SPEED COVER TRANSFER MEANS Filed Sept. 28. 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l w m, M 1615.41

on 4 744%: M Mara.

July 25, 1950 J. SIMPSON El AL HIGH-SPEED COVER TRANSFER Filed Sept. 28. 1948 MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .18 Ill W .16 i I WM. 21 Ill: 16

y 5, 1950 J. SIMPSON ET AL 2,516,653

HIGH-SPEED COVER TRANSFER MEANS Filed Sept. 28, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 L I I. II L I 24/ 25 i y 5, 1950 J. SIMPSON lfi' AL 6,653

HIGH-SPEED COVER TRANSFER MEANS Filed Sept. 28, 1948 4 Shets-Sheet 4 15572 fizz won 4 105v?! M fl fl'o. 3

J7 J5 v.55 156 Patented July 25, 1950 OFFICE HIGH-SPEED COVER TRANSFER MEANS Justin Simpson and Ralph M. Mero, Chicago, 111.,

assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 28, 1948,- Serial No. 51,626

1 Claims.

The invention relates generally to the art of making cans and primarily seeks to provide a novel means for rapidly and accurately transferring covers from the position at whichthey are deposited one by one from a cover feed means to the position at which they are assembled on the cans to be closed thereby.

It has been the practice heretofore, in the feeding of covers and the assembling thereof on cans tobe closed thereby, to drop the covers one by one onto suitable supporting means in the path of a travelling turret lug effective to engage behind the covers and convey them into position for being received on the complementary cans. This practice has been satisfactory when the feeding of the cans and covers was efiected at relatively slow rates, but difliculties have been. experienced when attempts were made to speed up the feeding of the cans and covers so as to keep pace with the higher speeds at which can lines and closing machines are being operated in some plants at the present time. Some can lines now function at speeds up to four hundred and fifty cans per minute, and closing machines have been designed to keep pace with said lines. It has been found that when covers are dropped inadvance of transfer conveyor or turret lugs travelling at such speeds there is a tendency for the covers to bounce away as the fast travelling; lugs come against them, with the result that the covers are not always held accurately against said lugs and properly positioned thereby to move into, accurate assembly relation to the. cans they are intended to cover, and jams occur. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide novel cover feeding or transferring devices in which all possibility of objectionable bouncing and misalignment of covers and cans and jamming thereof is eliminated. a

An object of the invention is to provide a cover feeding or transferring means of the character stated in which provision is made for accurately placing each cover between an advance lug and a trailing lug while moving toward the can and cover assembling station, the travelling lugs being driven in time with the travelling cans so asto. accurately bring the covers and cans into registering relation at said assembly station.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover feeding or transferring means of the character stated wherein the covers are supported at their edges only while being moved along between the lugs which also engage them at their edges alone, thereby to assure against, drag contact with stationary or relatively moving 2 parts of any portion of of a closed can and which might be crazed or bared by. such contact with resulting damage to products contained within such a can.

. Another object of theinvention is to provide a cover feeding, or transferring means of the character stated, wherein the lugs of each cover,

moving and placing set comprise a relatively high level cover supporting trackway portion along which each cover is pushed solely by a high lug and at-a level above that along which the tops of the low lugs traveha laterencountered low level cover supporting trackway portion along which each cover is pushed in position between a highlug and the companionlow lug, and an intermediate downwardly inclined cover supporting trackway portion connecting said high level and low level trackway portions and which permits each cover to move downwardly between the lugs of a companion set as the high lug thereof is pushing said cover in edge dragging contact through said inclined trackway portion.

Another object of the invention isto provide in 'a cover feeding or transferring means of the character stated, novel retarding-means tending to retard movement of each cover while passing through the downwardly inclined supporting trackway portion and thereby hold the cover against the high lug as the cover is moving down behind the low lug and bring about an accurate placement of the cover between said lugs without any danger of jamming of "a cover on a low lug.

Another object of the invention is to providea cover feeding or transferring means of the char-.

acter stated in which the cover retarding means includes a spring pressed retarder shoe which is slotted to permit the cover moving and placing lugs to pass 'therethrough.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the natureof the invention willbe more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appendedclaimaandthe several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 7

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view showing theimproved cover feeding or transfer? ring means and ,its' relation to the. cover feeding devices and the closing machine turret.

Figure 2 is a detail plan view illustrating the plate structurev which-. supports and guides the a cover having a protec-" tive coating ultimately to be presented interiorly covers as they are being moved by the transfer turret.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view illustrating the plate structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken through the cover feedway of the plate structure shown .in -.Figure 2, the section being taken along the center of the cover retarding means.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line 55 on Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figur-el illustrating in a somewhat diagrammatic manner the progression of a cover throughzthe high andlow level portions of the cover feedway at the positions of the retarding means, a cover being shown on the high level trackway portion in full-lines, passing through the downwardly inclined portion of the trackway in dotted lines and on the low level trackway portionin dotand dash lines.

Figure .7 is a. fragmentary vertical .crosssection takenacross the high level trackway portion of the plate structure at the position at which covers are deposited thereon by the cover feeding devices.

Figure v8 ,is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken acrossethe low levelfeedway'portion of the platestructure at the position at which the'covers and. cans are brought into assembly relation, a can being illustrated as in the progress of being lifted inassembly contact wit-lithe complementary cover.

Figure9 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating an acceptable means for driving therelated parts in properly timed relation,

Figure 10 is a vertical cross section through the drive connections, thesection being taken on the line II!I-0on FigureQ.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one turret pocketand'the associated set of cover placing and conveyingwlugs.

Figure 1-2'is a detail" perspective:viewzillustrating the wear plate presenting a downwardly inclined portion disposed'tm overlie covers as they are moving between the high low level'feedway portions.

"In the somewhat diagrammaticillustration in Figure 1, there-is shown: one practical. adaptation of 1 the invention asa means forrapidly feeding: or

transferring coversa'from thelsposition in which they are deposited one by one on said means to the position at which they are assembled .Onthe cans to be closed thereby. .In'this illustration a can feeding. meansis. shownand generall designated A, the cover stack orfeeddevicesaregenera-11y designated-Baa.noi-can-no-cover feed control: is included and generally designated -C,. the can and cover transferring means or turret is generally designated 13, and the closing. and discharging turrets ot a six-spindle-closingmachine are diagrammatically indicated; the closing turretibeing generally designated E and the closed can discharging turret being generally designatedyF.

The: can and cover conveying turretD includes arotor body 5 which-is peripherally .pocketedas at 6 to receive the cansf-rom theusual chain conveyor I and timing screw 8 oithe .can feeding means generally designated A. ,At the lead or advance. side of each turret pocket 6, there is provided a low height placer lug 9' which is removably fixedto the. top surface ,ofv the turret as at IDlin themanner clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 11. .At the trailing side of each pocket a pusher lug I I of considerably greater height than vided on said plate structure. stood that the plate structure I5 may be formed the drawings thatthe plate structure includes a well. or clearancelfiinwhich to receive the cover stack or feed means generally designated B, and

whichincludesithe cover feeding screws I! which operate in the recesses I8, and the driver shaft I9 which forms a part of the feed screw driving mechanism. This cover stack or feeding means generally designated B and the no-can-no-cover feed control associated therewith and generally designated C .form nopart of the present invention and are covered in the copending application for U. S, Letters Patent Serial Number 72328, filed by Justin Simpson on January 24, 1949. As'the covers are fed one by one through the operation of the feed screws I1 they fall or are deposited through the drop opening 20 in the plate structure. I 5 onto supporting trackways pro- It is to be underinone piece, or fabricated from a number of suitably shapedpieces, as desired. The undersurface of the plate structure is milled as at 2| to provide an arcuate can cover guideway which is just wide enough to permit the covers to pass freely therethrough as they are being conveyed by thepusher lugs II on the transfer turret rotor 5. The ceiling of the cover feedway is equipped with an arcuate' groove '22 toprovide clearance for the travelling pusher lugs I l. Intermediately of the ends of the plate thereis provided a U-shaped, hardened wear plate 23 which is removably mounted in a recess providedthereforinthe ceiling of the plate structure cover guideway in the manner clearly illustratedin'Figures 2 through 5 of the drawings, The hardened-wear plate 23 is centrally and arcuately grooved as at 24 in register'with the groove 22 in'the ceiling of the cover fee-dway to clear the travelling pusher lugs II of th transfer turret, and intermediately of its ends said plate is provided with a downwardly inclined portion 25 at opposite sides of the receiving end of a center slot 26 which registers with the slot 21 provided in the ceiling of the plate structure. Through these registering slots a retarder shoe 28 projects downwardly. into the path of travel of the covers in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, and it will be noted that said shoe is centrally slotted as at 29 to clear the pusher lugs I I of the transfer turret. This slotting of the retarder shoe providesparallel spaced side wings which are shaped in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 to present abruptly downwardly sloping receiving end portions 3!], and less abruptly'sloping retarding edge portions 3| extendingfrom said portions 30 to the end of said wings. The retarder shoe also is equipped.- with abutment flanges 32 which are engageable with the top of the plate stucture in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. A housing 33 is secured to the plate structure over the slots 26 and 21, and compression springs 3t interposed between the housing 33 and the top surface of the shoe serve to yieldably depress the same downwardly to the limit permitted by the abutment flanges '32-.

At the receiving end of the cover feedway, edge rails 35 are secured to the undersurface of the plate structure in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 7 so as to overhang the milled guideway 2| as at 36 thereby to provide trackways or supports on which the centrally depressed or countersunk covers will engage at their flanges only in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 7, the central or depressed portions of said covers extending between the inner edges of said rails 35. It will be apparent by reference to Figures 4, 5 and '7 that the rails 35 provide high level supporting ledges 31 for supporting the covers at their laterally projected flanges during the initial portion of the travel thereof through the supporting and guiding plate structure.

Intermediate overhanging supporting rails 38 also are attached to the undersurface of the plate structure to form continuations of the high level supporting ledges 31 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. These intermediate rails have downward inclines 39 which are disposed opposite the advance end portions of the retarder shoe flanges 30, 3|. Other overhanging support rails 40 are secured to the undersurface of the plate structure in the manner illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings so as to provide low level supporting ledges 4| extending from the delivery ends of the inclined ledge portions 39. The outer support rail 40 may be equipped with an extension 42 projected tangentially with relation to the cover feedway in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the same serving to support a hinged top can guide 6| overlying the can intake chain conveyor I, shown in Figure 1,

Other overhanging support rails 43 extend from the ends of the rails 40 around to and slightly beyond the position at which the assembly of the cans and covers is effected, and it is to be noted by reference to Figures 2, 3 and 8 of the drawings that the rails 43 are narrower than the other rails and are so placed as to more widely space the inner edges 44 thereof than are the inner edges of the other rails. By reason of this manner of shaping and placing the rails 43 suitable clearance is provided for the outwardly projecting top flanges 45 of the cans 46 at the can and cover assembling position in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 8. Thus as the cans 46 are moved onto the travelling pads I3 of the closing turret E they ma be lifted by said pads in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 8 into assembly relation with the overlying covers. Perfect coaxial relation of the can and cover complements is assured by the engagement of the cans in the turret pocket 6 and the confinement f the covers between the inner and outer surfaces of the plate structure guideway and between the respective placer and pusher lugs 9 and II. The can and cover complements are thus assembled and lifted through the plate structure clearance 48, and the plate structur also is provided with a clearance or chamfer 48 for clearing the downwardly travelling chuck cover pad 50 which moves into position for engaging each cover in the manner illustrated inFigure 8 incidental to the lifting of each cover and can complement into contact with the chuck opposed by the usual can closing or seaming roll devices generally designated 52, In this manner any misalignment or jamming of cans and covers incidental to thepreassembly thereof prior to each double seaming or sealing operation is avoided. While any suitable means may be provided for driving the several described parts in suitably timed relation, an acceptable drive arrangement is diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 wherein the main drive gear is indicated at 53. It is to be understood that rotation may be imparted to the shaft on which the gear 53 is aflixed in any approved manner (not shown). The driver gear 53 may serve to drive an idler gear 54 which is rotatable with an idler gear 55 disposed to mesh with and impart rotation to a gear 56 which is connected in drive relation with the driver shaft I9 through which rotation is imparted to the cover feed screws IT. Thedriver gear 53 also imparts rotation to the closing turret and drive gear 51 which is mounted to rotate with the driver gear 58 which meshes with and drives the transfer turret driver gear 59 and also the discharge turret driver gear 60.

In the operation of the apparatus disclosed herein the covers 41 are deposited one by one by the said screws I'I onto the supported rails 35, Or rather onto the high level feedway or ledges 31 provided by said rails. See Figure 7. In this manner a cover is deposited in advance of each rapidly travelling pusher lug I'I so as to be conveyed over the feedway supports or rails by said lug. Because of the very rapid rate of travel, the lugs II may tend to bounce the stationary cover away from the rapidly moving pusher lugs II as the lugs move in contact therewith. The purpose is to place and confine each cover between the leading, low height placer lug 9 and the trailing high level pusher lug I l of one of the lugsets, but it will be apparent that if no means were provided for bringing and holding the covers against the pusher lugs it would be difiicultif not impossible to properly place each cover between the lugs of the respective set in the manner stated, because in bouncing forwardly away from the pushing lug II a cover will move into position placing a portion thereof directly over the associated placer lug 9, and jams would occur. In Figure 4 of the drawings a cover is shown in the high level feedway as about to contact the retarder shoe flange portions 30 and as having bounced forwardly out of contact with the rapidly travelling pusher lug I I. r As the covers are pushed by the lugs I'I into contact with the retarder shoe and into the downwardly inclining feedway portion over the downwardly inclined ledges 39, the retarder shoe flange portions 30 and 3! will yi'eldably engage with the top surfaces of the covers in the manner indicated by dotted lines in Figure '6 to depress the cover in the downwardly inclined trackway' portion and cause the trailing edge portion of the cover to be placed and held against the pushing lug II, and the advance edge portion thereof to move down behind the leading, low height placer lug 9. In this manner each cover passing into the downwardly inclined feedway portion and coming into contact with the spring depressed retarder shoe will be first placed and held against the pushing lug I I and then be accurately placed between the cooperating lugs 9 and I I of the par ticular set.

As each cover is moved through the feedway under the spring depressed retarder shoe it comes to the low level support rails 40, resting only at itslateral flange edge portions on the low level ledges 4| and being supported against tilting by the milled ceiling of the feedway, and being held in accurate confinement between the respective placer and pusher lugs 9 and II. I

It will-be apparent that since the covers engage-withvthe supporting rails onlyat their laterally' 'extended flange edge portions and are 'engaged only at top portions by theretarder shoe 28andplate 23, 25,-no portionlof a cover which is to be presented interiorly of a filled and closed can is engaged in drag contact withany part which might tend to craze or bare protective coatings'and thereby present bare metal for contaminating contact with products in the cans.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes Of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and'scope of the invention as defined in the ap-' pended claims.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for feeding covers for assembly on cam, the combination of a cover supporting feedway over which the covers are conveyed, a conveyor having thereon spaced sets of cover pushing and placing lugs each set comprising a relatively low height placer lug and a relatively high pusher lug spaced to trail behind-said placer lug: a distance only slightly greater than the diameter of acover, means for depositing covers on the feedway in position for being engaged by said: pusher lugs, said feedway including a high level portion placed at a level higherthan that of the tops of the placer lugs but lower than the tops of the pusher lugs, a low level portion wherein covers will travel in COIlfiIlEIIlelllTbGtWi-Ifin the-lugs of the respective sets, and a downwardly inclined portion connecting said high and low level portions and which is effective as covers pass therethrough to cause said covers to move down behind the placer lugs while being pushed by the pusher lugs, and retarding means associated-with said inclined portion and effective to engage and tend to retard progress of covers through the inclined portion to momentarilypressand hold them against the respective high pusher lugas they are moving down into position behind -the respective w placer lug.

2. In apparatus for feeding covers for assembly on;cans, theicombination of a cover supporting feedway over which the covers are conveyed, a conveyor having thereon spaced sets of cover pushing and placing lugs each set comprisin a relatively low height placer lug and a relatively high pusher lug spaced to trailbehind said placer luga distance only slightly greater than the diameter of a cover, means for depositing covers on the feedway in position for being engaged by said pusher lugs; said feedway including a high level portion placed at a level higher than that of the tops of the placer lugs but lower than the tops of the pusher lugs, a low level portion wherein covers will travel in confinement between the lugs of the respectivesets, and-a downwardly inclined portion connecting said high and low level portions and which is effective as covers pass therethrough to cause said covers to move down behind thexplacer lugs while being pushed by the pusher lugs, and spring pressed shoe means associated with said inclined portion and disposed to beengaged by covers passing through the inclined portion in a manner tending to retard progress thereof and press and momentarily hold thecovers against the trailing high pusher lugs as they are moving down into position behindthe low placer lugs.

v 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 and adapted to feed covers having depressed central portions dimensioned to fit within open tops ofcans and overhanging rail edges disposed to engage under the flange portions only of said covers with the central portions of the covers extending between them, and the=spring pressedshoe means is disposed to engage only top portions of the covers and-their flange portions, thereby to avoid the:

baring of any base metal portion of a cover which is to be subsequently placed in position wherein contamination-of can contents by bare base metal contact might result.

4. In apparatus for feeding covers for assembly on cans,- the combination of a peripherally pocketed rotary cover and can conveying turret having-thereon a set of cover pushin andplacing'lugs'associated with each pocket and comprising a relatively low height placer lug and a relatively high pusher lug spaced apart in a-manner for accurately centerin a cover over a can in the respective pocket, means for feeding cans to said pockets, an-arcuate cover supporting feedway overlying said turret and over which the covers are moved-by the pusher lugs, means for depositing a cover in advance of each approachingpusher lug, said feedway including a high level portion placed at a level higher than that of the tops of the placer lugs but lower than the tops of the pusher lugs, a low level portionwhere incovers will travel in confinement centered between the placer and pusher lug sets, a down- .on cans, the combination of a peripherally pocketed rotary cover and can conveying turret having thereon a set of cover pushing and placing lugs associated with each pocket and comprising a relatively low height placer lug and a :relatively high pusher lug spaced apart in a manner for accurately centering a cover over a can in the respective pocket, means for feeding cans to said pockets, an arcuate cover supporting feedway overlying said turret and over which the covers are moved by the pusher lugs, means for depositing acover in advance of each approaching pusher lug,said ieedway including a high level portion placed at a level higher-than,

that of the tops of the placer lugs but lower than the tops of the pusher lugs, a low level portion wherein covers will travel in confinement centered between the placer and pusher lug sets, a

downwardly inclined portion connecting said high and low 'level portions and which is effective as covers pass therethrough to cause said covers to move downbehind the placer lugs while being pushed :by the pusher lugs, and spring:

pressed shoe means associated with said inclined portion and disposed tobe engaged by covers to feed covers having depressed central portions dimensioned to fit within open tops of cans and fiange portions extending outwardly from said central portions and wherein the cover supporting ieedway is composed of inwardly directed overhanging rail edges disposed to engage under the flange portions only of said covers with the central portions of the covers extending between them, and the spring pressed shoe means is disposed to engage only top portions of the covers and their flange portions, thereby to avoid the baring of any base metal portion of a cover which is to be subsequently placed in position wherein contamination of can contents by bare base metal contact might result.

'7. Apparatus as defined in claim in which the cover supporting feedway has a fiat ceiling overlying the same and in part defining and confining the path of travel of the covers, said ceiling including a removable wear plate overlying the inclined feedway portion and which is longitudinally slotted to permit projection downwardly therethrough of the spring pressed retarder shoe.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 and adapted to feed covers having depressed central portions dimensioned to fit within open tops of cans and flange portions extending outwardly from said central portions and wherein the cover supporting feedway is composed of inwardly directed overhanging rail edges disposed to engage under the flange portions only of said covers with the central portions of the covers extending between them, said rail edges including discharge end portions spaced far enough apart to permit passage upwardly therethrough of the open tops of the cans to be assembled with the covers, and there being included means to lift the cans into assembly contact with the covers while they are disposed flatwise on said rail edges and in centered relation between the placer and pusher lugs on the turret.

9. In apparatus for feeding covers for assembly on cans, the combination of a cover supporting feedway over which the covers are conveyed, a conveyor having thereon spaced sets of cover pushing and placing lugs each set comprising a relatively low height placer lug and a relatively high pusher lug spaced to trail behind said placer lug a distance only slightly greater than the diameter of a cover, and means for depositing covers on the feedway in position for being engaged by said pusher lugs, said feedway including a high level cover supporting portion at a level higher than that of the tops of the placer lugs but lower than the tops of the pusher lugs, a low level cover supporting portion wherein covers will travel in confinement between the lugs of the respective sets, and a downwardly inclined portion between said high and low level portions and disposed to support covers and to at least in part overlie and be contacted by said covers as they pass from said high level portion to said low level portion and which is effective as covers contact said overlying part to retard movement of any cover moving ahead of the respective pushing lug to urge it back against said pushing lug and cause it to move down behind the cooperating placer lug.

10. In apparatus for feeding covers for assembly on cans, the combination of a peripherally pocketed rotary cover and can conveying turret having thereon a set of cover pushing and placing lugs associated with each pocket and comprising a relatively low height placer lug and a relatively high pusher lug spaced apart in a manner for accurately centering a cover over a can in the respective pocket, means for feeding cans to said pockets, an arcuate cover supporting feedway overlying said turret and over which the covers are moved by the pusher lugs, means for depositing a cover in advance of each approaching pusher lug, said feedway including a high level cover supporting portion placed'at a level higher than that of the tops of the placer lugs but lower than the tops of the pusher lugs, a low level cover supporting portion wherein covers will travel in confinement centered between the placer and pusher lug sets, and a downwardly inclined portion between said high and low level portions and disposed to support covers and to at least in part overlie and be contacted by covers as they pass from said high level portion to said low level portion and which is effective as covers contact said overlying part to retard movement of any cover moving ahead of the respective pushing lug to urge it back against said pushing lug and cause it to move down behind the cooperating place lug.

JUSTIN SIIWPSON. RALPH M. MERO'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,439,620 Elgy Dec. 19, 1922 2,255,707 Kronquest Sept. 9, 1941 

